DHS to combine databases for immigration management

The Homeland Security Department’s Citizenship and Immigration Services division is combining its several databases for immigration management into a single system to improve fraud detection and respond to information requests from the intelligence community and law enforcement officials.

The new system -- the Citizenship and Immigration Data Repository (CIDR) – was presented in the Federal Register on Sept. 8 and will go into effect Oct. 8. Comments on the system will be accepted until that date.

According to DHS, the new classified database will enable officials to search a single database of information gleaned from several IT databases including: The Computer Linked Application Information Management System 3; CLAIMS 4; the Refugees, Asylum, and Parole System; Asylum Pre-screen System; Reengineered Naturalization Application Casework System; Central Index System; and the Fraud Detection and National Security Data System.

CIDR will be used to perform background checks on immigrants and non-immigrants alike, but access to it will be limited to ensure those requesting the information are not obtaining it for fraudulent activities and do not present a national security concern.

Another reason for CIDR’s classified status is that many information requests from the intelligence community and law enforcement officials are classified, even though the information collected is not classified. Only vetted CIS employees will be able to perform searches on CIDR, which is composed of mirror copies of information in the original databases.

DHS will share the information from CIDR with other U.S. and international government agencies, but only on a need-to-know basis.